Combining the best of comedy-action-drama capers such as MacGyver, Magnum P.I and I Spy, the series resumes with Donovan's idiosyncratic Michael fighting new villains as a private eye while attempting to get closer to learning why he received a burn notice, or termination, from the CIA — which unceremoniously dumped him in his former hometown of Miami.

She enlists Michael to work for some shady bosses by threatening those closest to him. That includes mom Madeline, a chain-smoking hypochondriac played with gusto by Sharon Gless, and Fiona Glennanne (Gabrielle Anwar), Michael's ultra-sexy, on-again, off-again girlfriend who's also an IRA-trained weapons expert. Bruce Campbell returns as Sam Axe, Michael's rumpled ex-FBI agent and best friend.

Action aside, "you're going to see Michael become a little more human this season," says Donovan, 40. "We'll see more of his humanity and learn how he wound up in the CIA.

"But what's ironic is that as his missions get more dangerous, he's going to become more vulnerable."

Michael will grow closer with Fiona this season, and his relationship with his mother — aided by joint therapy sessions with more than one therapist — will deepen, Donovan says.

Aside from character development, "there's lots of cool stuff going on," says creator Matt Nix. "Last season really was about the hunt for who burned Michael. This year, it's what he's going to do about it, and why was he burned?"

The cat-and-mouse interplay between Carla and Michael will create some interesting story lines. "He's being recruited into something powerful," says Nix. "If he wants to find out more about what happened to him and why, he has to play along with them."

Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1) plays another burned spy in an upcoming four-episode arc. His character is less subdued than the über-cool Michael Westen. "Think Westen with rabies," Nix says.

Nine of this season's episodes will air through August, then the rest will begin in January, says USA Network programming executive Jeff Wachtel.

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